=A= = the quarto of 1613.
=B= and =C= = the quartos of 1635.
=D= = the second folio.
(=A=) The | Knight of | the Burning Pestle. | Quod si | Indicium
subtile, videndis artibus illud | Ad libros & ad hæc Musarum dona
vocares: | B[oe]otum in crasso iurares aëre natum. | Horat. in Epist.
ad Oct. Aug. | London, | Printed for Walter Burre, and are to be sold
at the signe of the Crane in Paules Church-yard. | 1613.
To his many | waies endeered | friend Maister Robert Keysar. |
_Sir, this unfortunate child, who in eight daies (as lately
I have learned) was begot and borne, soone after, was by his
parents (perhaps because hee was so unlike his brethren)
exposed to the wide world, who for want of judgement, or not
understanding the privy marke of_ Ironie _about it (which
shewed it was no of-spring of any vulgar braine) utterly
rejected it: so that for want of acceptance it was even ready
to give up the Ghost, and was in danger to have bene smothered
in perpetuall oblivion, if you (out of your direct_ antipathy
_to ingratitude) had not bene moved both to relieve and
cherish it: wherein I must needs commend both your judgement,
understanding, and singular love to good wits; you afterwards_
_sent it to mee, yet being an infant and somewhat ragged, I
have fostred it privately in my bosome these two yeares,
and now to shew my love returne it to you, clad in good
lasting cloaths, which scarce memory will weare out, and able
to speake for it selfe; and withall, as it telleth mee,
desirous to try his fortune in the world, where if yet it
be welcome, father, foster-father, nurse and child, all have_
_their desired end. If it bee slighted or traduced, it hopes
his father will beget him a yonger brother, who shall revenge
his quarrell, and challenge the world either of fond and
meerely literall interpretation, or illiterate misprision._
_Perhaps it will be thought to bee of the race of_ Don Quixote:
_we both may confidently sweare, it is his elder above a
yeare; and therefore may (by vertue of his birth-right)
challenge the wall of him. I doubt not but they will meet in_
_their adventures, and I hope the breaking of one staffe will
make them friends; and perhaps they will combine themselves,
and travell through the world to seeke their adventures. So I
commit him to his good fortune, and my selfe to your love._ |
Your assured friend | W. B.
The first quarto does not contain the address _To the Reader_ or The
Prologue, printed on p. 160. It omits _The Actors Names_ and the text
is headed The famous Historie | Of the Knight of the burning| _PESTLE_.
|, a title followed in quartos B and C at the head of the text.
(=B=) The | Knight | Of the | Burning | Pestle. | Full of Mirth and
Delight. | Written by {Francis Beaumont, and John Fletcher.} Gent. |
As it is now Acted by Her Majesties Servants | at the Private house
in Drury lane. | 1635. | Quod si | Iudicium subtile, videndis artibus
illud | Ad libros & ad hæc Musarum dona vocares: | B[oe]otum in crasso
jurares aëre natum. | Horat. in Epist. ad Oct. Aug. | London: | Printed
by N. O. for I. S. 1635.
(C) The | Knight | Of the | Burning | Pestle. | Full of Mirth and
Delight. | Written by {Francis Beaumont, and John Fletcher.} Gent. |
As it is now acted by her Majesties Servants | at the Private house
in Drury lane. | 1635. | Quod si | Iudicium subtile, videndis artibus
illud | Ad libros & ad hæc Musarum dona vocares: | Boeotum in crasso
jurares aëre natum. | Horat. in Epist. ad Oct. Aug. | London: | Printed
by N. O. for I. S. 1635.
The alternative readings adopted in square brackets in the text are,
mainly, from A.
Mrs Arnold Glover has kindly collated the copies of the quartos of 1635
at the British Museum and at South Kensington.
p. =160=, l. 8. A and B] person.
l. 19. B] meanings.
l. 25. D] tbe.
p. =161=, l. 1. B and C] The Speakers Names.
l. 11. B and C] Luce Marchants.
l. 45. A-C _print practically the rest of the Prologue, except
Ralph's lines on_ p. =164= _and Prologue's conclusion_ p. =165=
_as prose; the interruptions of the Citizen and his Wife are
also, usually, printed as prose in the Quartos._
l. 43. D] sweat.
p. =162=, l. 34. A] warrant tee.
p. =163=, l. 13. D _some copies misprint_] Playa, ss.
l. 21. A] couple stools.
p. =164=, l. 35. D] Grocers.
p. =165=. l. 1. D] bunrning.
p. =166=, l. 3. D] my my.
l. 5. A and B] his Prentice.
l. 13. D] of self.
p. =167=, l. 7. A and B] it must be.
p. =169=, ll. 18, 29. D] Mer.
l. 24. A] in's.
l. 33. B-D] froward to.
p. =170=, l. 3. A] this place.
l. 11. D] Luec.
p. =171=, l. 10. A] you, I if.
p. =172=, l. 23. A-D] Tobacco? do you nothing.
l. 18. A-C] fault' faith.
l. 20. A _omits_] of.
l. 26. D] Grocer.
l. 36. A-C] stroake.
p. =173=, l. 21. D] beautiful.
l. 27. A-C] Methridatum.
l. 29. C and D] of, in his.
l. 33. C and D] I not.
l. 38. D] Tom.
p. =174=, l. 2. A] oth. B] o'th.
l. 25. A-C] Damsels.
l. 38. A] Im'e a.
p. =175=, l. 5. A-C] ne'er [_in various spellings_].
l. 7. A and B] th' art.
l. 8. C and D] the bloud.
l. 35. C and D] I ever.
p. =176=, l. 13. A and B] state.
l. 14. A] lust.
l. 23. A-C] hitherto this.
p. =177=, l. 24. D] and and.
l. 19. A and B] there's.
l. 33. B-D] Enter Jasper.
l. 37. A] 'tis now matter.
p. =178=, l. 3. D _repeats line twice._
l. 21. A-C] a'th toe. D] Sweet: heart.
p. =179=, l. 33. A-C] a'thy.
l. 35. D] fair a.
l. 38. A and B _omit_] thou.
l. 40. D] Cit.
p. =180=, l. 29. A-C] pitch-field.
l. 15. A-C] the wilde.
p. =181=, l. 8. D] indeed: law.
l. 9. A and B _omit_] will.
l. 10. A-C] a' my.
l. 12. B] a knot grasse.
l. 17. D] it'a.
l. 18. B-D] friends. Ralph
l. 22. A] may this.
l. 23. D] Knigthood.
p. =182=, l. 17. A and B] and some Trumpets.
l. 32. C and D] to earrh.
p. =183=, l. 5. D] Wife.
l. 7. A] here are.
l. 10. A and B] an he.
l. 23. D _omits_] Ralph.
l. 36. A and B] he hath.
p. =184=, l. 1. B-D] dare.
l. 7. D] aed.
l. 16. A] warrant thee.
l. 30. D] the ill.
p. =185=, l. 17. A _omits_] you.
l. 28. A] a hell.
l. 35. A] then ha.
p. =186=, l. 29. D] shoulderr.
p. =187=, l. 16. D] _Ralph._ Thou.
p. =188=, l. 8. A and B] shrodly.
l. 18. C and D] your.
p. =189=, l. 6. A] Chamberlino. B] Chamberlaino.
l. 9. A] Tastero.
l. 16. A and B] nole.
ll. 22, 23. A] Tapstero.
l. 27. A-C] Am to.
p. =190=, l. 6. A] errant.
l. 15. A] shall I.
p. =191=, l. 30. C and D] Never his.
l. 31. B-D] _repeat_ she is _thrice only_.
p. =192=, l. 4. A] taken. B and C] take.
l. 6. A] from that.
l. 38. A-C] a your.
p. =193=, l. 3. C and D _omit_] poore.
l. 16. C and D] Your.
l. 29. C and D] my dear,
p. =194=, l. 30. D] if.
p. =195=, l. 31. B] _Luce_. _Luce_ awake. _Luce_, why ...
p. =196=, l. 31. A and B] that be.
p. =197=, l. 9. D] is fit.
l. 12. D _omits_] _Exit._
l. 18. A] i truth.
l. 24. D] Dwarse.
p. =198=, l. 3. A] Every truery true Knight, and every damsell
faire faire.
l. 19. D] Knigthood.
l. 20. A _omits_] your.
l. 34. A] our Casket.
p. =199=, l. 1. C and D] your can.
l. 19. D] If oft.
l. 22. C and D] bounds.
l. 38. C and D] near a.
p. =200=, l. 8. A] Ladies Gent:
l. 24. A] fight him.
p. =201=, l. 13. D] merry-totgght.
ll. 14, 15. D] merry-thoughauhain.
l. 17. D] aone.
l. 22. A and B _omit_] thank.
l. 30. A] plot. B] plos.
p. =202=, l. 6. A and B] Behold that.
l. 12. B and C] all the adventurous.
l. 16. A and B] speake.
l. 24. A] Ladies Gent.
p. =203=, l. 6. A and B] ore.
l. 24. A and B] showdst.
l. 29. B-D] the wise. D] I hear.
l. 31. A] That that I may give condigne.
l. 34. B-D] his den.
p. =204=, l. 2. A and B] till mine.
l. 18. D] way. A-C] way,
l. 30. B-D] 3. Knight.
p. =205=, l. 7. D] Rafe.
l. 20. A] for these.
l. 25. A-C] stricken.
l. 27. A] Turne-bull.
l. 29. D] here.
ll. 33, 34. D] done. Another
p. =206=, l. 1. C and D] half.
l. 4. C and D] tender.
l. 8. D] Gentleman.
l. 14. A and B] shall thou.
l. 19. D] Sqire.
l. 32. D] yon. A] out at the.
l. 34. D] I'll get in amoug. C] I get. A and B] 'em ... em.
l. 35. D] such Ieslon.
p. =207=, l. 7. A and B] fellow and fellow.
l. 24. A and B] 'em.
p. =208=, l. 38. A-C] Margret.
p. =210=, l. 9. D] stand, fix.
l. 16. A and B] flirt Gill.
l. 22. D] Geerge.
l. 30. C and D] be weary.
p. =211=, ll. 10, 14, 15. A and B] warrant tee.
l. 22. C and D] I'm.
p. =212=, l. 25. A-C] needs must.
l. 38. C and D] shilling to. B] shilling, to.
p. =213=, l. 12. A] and a Boy.
l. 18. D] as your.
l. 38. A] appointed.
p. =214=, ll. 10, 11. A and B] ha has.
l. 15. B] I should.
l. 28. A-C] I heere.
l. 31. A and B] Porrage.
p. =215=, l. 14. C and D] may know.
l. 19. A-C] I am.
l. 20. D] bosly.
l. 36. C and D] of father.
p. =216=, l. 1. D] changes. A-C] changes,
l. 16. A and B] deserv'd.
1. 38. D] snall. A and B] borne.
p. =217=, l. 5. A-C] whiles.
p. =218=, l. 37. D] great.
l. 38. C and D] Dinner.
p. =219=, l. 11. D] Bnt.
l. 13. C and D] is that.
l. 19. A] let am.
l. 25. A _adds another_ now.
l. 28. C and D] not know.
p. =220=, l. 6. C and D] Rafe,
l. 18. D] quickly, for I come amongst. B and C] or if I come amongst.
l. 21. A and B] _Exit Boy._
l. 35. A-C] councell.
l. 39. D] flagrant.
p. =221=, l. 13. A] the bellowing Bucke.
p. =222=, l. 1. C and D] Jasper and his.
l. 9. B-D] on.
l. 10. A] To farre.
l. 29. A] of this.
l. 37. A-C] fount.
p. =223=, l. 5. B] the Ghost,
l. 6. B-D] now I'll.
l. 15, 16. D] prethee. call
l. 26. D] Scarfe for.
l. 34. A-C _repeat_ Rafe _before_ double.
l. 38. D] shaer.
p. =224=, l. 6. A-C] stroke.
p. =225=, l. 8. A] not you should.
l. 21. A-C] double your files.
l. 26. D] Shop.
l. 33. C and D] is more.
p. =226=, l. 10. A and B] has.
l. 16. B-D] boys?
l. 28. B-D] full long I.
p. =227=, l. 12. D] _Mist. Mer._
p. =228=, l. 1. C and D] him talk.
p. =229=, l. 1. A and B] forgive ham.
l. 2. A] be sad
l. 10. D] rest--
l. 15. A] care of that.
l. 37. B-D] means.
l. 38. B-D] The Lord of May.
p. =230=, l. 1. D] Afrer.
l. 12. C and D] Death came [B, come] and caught.
l. 17. B-D] in Moor-fields.
l. 33. A] not depart.
p. =231=, l. 15. A] I might see.
l. 17. C and D] you like.